LEHI — The forecasted high temperature in Columbus next Tuesday for Real Salt Lake's CONCACAF Champions League match with the Crew is 29 degrees.

The club did its best to try and simulate those conditions on Friday afternoon at Xango Field in Lehi, with a wind-chill temperature down in the 30s.

Both suited Nat Borchers, a Colorado native who's also played professionally in Norway, just fine.

"It's fun to play in cold weather. I think when you take a ball in the face, it's going to sting," he said. "I think you have more energy, I don't think the heat's going to be a factor. I'm looking forward to it."

Field conditions will likely be a bigger concern than the weather.

The Crew Stadium groundskeeper was quoted this week saying the field is going to be bumpy and partially frozen for the match. That's not exactly what a possession-oriented team like Real Salt Lake wants to hear.

"I'd probably say I'm more concerned with the field, but at the same time you can't control either. So we just have to go with it no matter what happens, we've got to be ready to battle," said RSL defender Chris Wingert. "If it ends up being more of a fight than a nice soccer match, then so be it."

GETTING THE CALL:Jason Kreis is one of 25 players who has been nominated for the National Soccer Hall of Fame class of 2011.

To be eligible as a player, an individual must be retired between three and 10 years, and also have played in at least 20 international matches or played professionally in an American first division league and garnered postseason honors or all-star honors at least once.

Kreis played professionally for 12 seasons between Dallas and Real Salt Lake, scoring 108 career goals.

"Real surprising. I figured if that ever came, it was going to come a long time down the road," said Kreis. "Not exactly sure of what that means. I don't know if that means I'm every going to be in the Hall of Fame, but it's certainly nice to have your name stuck next to it in a group of players like that. I'm honored by that, but I don't put too much weight into it either."

Kreis is one of six first-time players on the ballot, which includes former RSL defender Eddie Pope.

Former Real assistant coach Robin Fraser, who's now the Chivas USA head coach, is also on the ballot.

The voting pool includes designated media members, select soccer administrators and current Hall of Famers. Each voter can list up to 10 candidates. A player is elected to the Hall of Fame if his name appears on at least 66.7 percent of the ballots. Conversely, a name is removed from future consideration if it doesn't appear on at least five percent of the ballots.